Contract Manager - Fire Protection

Contracts Manager - Passive Fire Protection

Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk - hybrid working with UK travel

Salary: £65,000-£75,000

Package: Car allowance, profit related bonus, pension and 25 days' holiday

Employment type: Permanent, full time

Hours: Monday to Friday, typically 8:00am-5:00pm

An experienced Contracts Manager is required to lead the delivery of passive fire protection contracts across the UK.

This is a senior operational and commercial appointment within a growing passive fire division backed by an established construction business. The successful Contracts Manager will take responsibility for multiple live projects from mobilisation through to completion, final account and handover.

Projects will include fire stopping, compartmentation, fire doors, penetration sealing, fire barriers and structural fire protection across healthcare, residential, education and other occupied or safety critical environments.

The role requires more than general construction management experience. Applicants must understand passive fire protection, compliant installation, third party certification and the quality evidence required to demonstrate that completed work meets the specified fire performance.

The successful candidate will manage contracts typically valued between £100,000 and £10 million, taking responsibility for delivery, client relationships, commercial performance, compliance, quality and the leadership of site teams and subcontractors.

The position is based near Bury St Edmunds with hybrid working and regular travel to projects throughout the UK.

Contracts Manager responsibilities:

Contract and operational management

• Manage passive fire protection contracts from mobilisation through to completion and handover.
• Take responsibility for multiple concurrent projects and sites.
• Develop project programmes, delivery plans and resource schedules.
• Monitor progress, productivity, costs, quality and contractual performance.
• Manage Project Managers, Site Managers and subcontractors.
• Coordinate labour, materials, suppliers and specialist resources.
• Identify and resolve operational, programme, technical and commercial issues.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the required standard.
• Lead mobilisation, progress, review and close out meetings.
• Maintain accurate project reporting and risk registers.
• Ensure effective communication between clients, commercial teams and site delivery teams.

Passive fire technical oversight

• Oversee the compliant delivery of fire stopping and compartmentation works.
• Manage fire door installation, remediation and replacement projects.
• Review penetration sealing, cavity barriers, fire barriers and structural fire protection works.
• Ensure installations comply with approved designs, fire strategies, manufacturers' details and project specifications.
• Review proposed fire stopping systems and supporting test evidence.
• Identify unsuitable applications, non compliant installations and missing evidence.
• Coordinate technical queries, system approvals and corrective actions.
• Ensure work aligns with third party certification schemes such as FIRAS, BM TRADA or IFC.
• Maintain awareness of Approved Document B, Building Regulations and relevant BS and EN standards.
• Provide practical technical support to project and site teams.

Compliance and quality assurance

• Maintain robust quality assurance, inspection and record keeping processes.
• Ensure suitable digital records and photographic evidence are retained for completed installations.
• Oversee inspection plans, installation records, labelling, traceability and handover documentation.
• Ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act and Golden Thread information requirements where applicable.
• Support Principal Contractor responsibilities under CDM 2015.
• Review RAMS, Construction Phase Plans, permits and project-specific procedures.
• Coordinate client, third party certification and regulatory audits.
• Ensure audit findings and non conformances are resolved promptly.
• Drive right first time installation and continuous improvement across all projects.

Commercial management

• Take responsibility for contract budgets, forecasts and commercial performance.
• Monitor costs, revenue, cash flow and project margin.
• Coordinate applications, valuations, variations and final accounts.
• Identify commercial and contractual risks at an early stage.
• Ensure changes and additional works are properly recorded and recovered.
• Work closely with quantity surveying and commercial colleagues.
• Support tendering, estimating, pricing and contract negotiations where required.
• Contribute to value engineering without compromising fire performance or compliance.

Client and stakeholder management

• Act as the senior point of contact for allocated clients.
• Attend client, design, progress, commercial and technical meetings.
• Provide clear and accurate information regarding programme, risk, quality and cost.
• Build trusted long term relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Manage expectations and resolve delivery issues professionally.
• Support client retention, repeat business and the development of new opportunities.
• Work effectively with consultants, designers, Building Control, fire engineers and other stakeholders.

Leadership and team development

• Lead and support project, site and office based delivery teams.
• Set clear responsibilities, standards and performance expectations.
• Coach and develop Project Managers and Site Managers.
• Promote accountability, collaboration and high quality delivery.
• Support recruitment and succession planning as the operation grows.
• Help establish consistent operational and commercial processes.

Essential experience

Applicants should have:

• Previous experience as a Contracts Manager, Senior Contracts Manager or experienced Project Manager within passive fire protection.
• Strong fire stopping and compartmentation experience.
• Experience delivering fire door installation, remediation or replacement works.
• Experience managing multiple construction projects or sites concurrently.
• Experience controlling contracts from mobilisation through to completion and final account.
• Experience managing directly employed teams and subcontractors.
• Commercial responsibility for budgets, forecasts, valuations, variations and margins.
• Strong knowledge of quality assurance and compliance requirements within passive fire protection.
• Understanding of Approved Document B, Building Regulations and relevant fire safety standards.
• Experience working under FIRAS, BM TRADA, IFC or an equivalent third party certification scheme.
• Strong client management and stakeholder communication skills.
• The ability to solve operational, commercial and technical problems.
• Confidence working within occupied and safety critical environments.
• Competence using digital project management and compliance recording systems.
• A full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold, or be willing to obtain:

• SMSTS.
• CSCS Manager card.
• Relevant health and safety training.

A degree, Level 6 NVQ or equivalent qualification in Construction Management, Commercial Management or a related discipline would be advantageous but is not essential.

Membership of CIOB, RICS, IFSM or another relevant professional organisation would also be beneficial.

Desirable experience

The following would be advantageous:

• Healthcare, hospital or other occupied building projects.
• High rise residential or higher risk building experience.
• Building Safety Act and Golden Thread requirements.
• Principal Contractor delivery.
• Tendering, estimating and commercial negotiation.
• Structural fire protection and intumescent coatings.
• Managing projects or portfolios valued up to several million pounds.
• Developing teams, processes or a growing regional operation.

Important distinction

This position requires direct passive fire contracting and project delivery experience.

It is not suitable for candidates whose experience is limited to fire risk assessments, fire alarms, fire and security systems, consultancy only fire engineering or general construction management without substantial passive fire experience.

Package and progression

• Salary of £65,000-£75,000, dependent on experience.
• Car allowance.
• Profit related bonus.
• Pension scheme.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working based near Bury St Edmunds.
• Company funded training and professional development.
• Genuine influence over how projects, teams and delivery processes are developed.
• Clear progression into wider operational leadership as the division grows.

Apply

This opportunity would suit an experienced Passive Fire Contracts Manager seeking responsibility for significant contracts, commercial influence and a clear route into senior operational leadership.

To apply, please submit an updated CV clearly detailing your passive fire projects, contract values, commercial responsibilities, team management experience, current salary and notice period.